Device for holding packages of letters



G. W. STAPLES. DEVICE FOR HOLDING PACKAGES 0F LETTERS. APFLICATION FILED Aue.11, 1919.

1,330,659. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

IATENT OFIQE.

GEORGE W. STAPLES,

OF ATTALLA, ALABAMA.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING- PACKAGES 0F LETTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed August 11, 1919. Serial No. 316,845.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Attalla, in the county of Etowah and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Holding Packages of Letters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for holding packages of letters, for convenience of postal clerks, etc.

My invention comprises various details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing thc-(ai device applied to a package of letters, an

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Reference now being had the drawings by letter:

A designates a plate having a tapering shank portion with an aperture B at one end, to which one end of a cord C is adapted to be attached. Said plate has a bracket member D substantially U-shaped with oppositely disposed apertures E therein upon which the pintles F of a clamping plate H are journaled. Said plate H has a button I fastened to the outer face thereof and the end of the plate is notched as at J. A hook K is fastened to or integral with the plate H midway its length.

A U-shaped member R is fastened to the plate A and through which the contracted forward end of the plate H passes and which regulates the tilting movement of said plate H in one direction. A spring T is fastened to the details of to the plate A and bears yieldingly against the inner face of the plate H tending to normally hold the free end of the latter in frictional contact with the forward contracted part of the plate A adjacent to the aperture therein.

In operation, in applying the device to a package of letters, the plate is placed in contact with the uppermost of the letters near the center thereof and which plate may be conveniently held by the thumb of the left hand, while the cord is gripped by the right hand of the operator. The cord is first passed longitudinally about the package of letters, thence brought to and wound about said button a couple of times, thence passed at right angles about the package of letters and over the hook K. The cord may then be inserted underneath the contracted end of the plate'H, the latter being tilted by the thumb on the left hand to cause the free end of the plate H to be thrown away from the plate A sufficiently to permit the cord to be inserted underneath its end, and when pressure is relieved from the plate H the contracted end of the latter will frictionally clamp and hold the cord between the same and the forward portion of the plate A.

By the provision of a device embodying the features of my invention it will be noted that a bundle of letters may be easily and quickly bound together and the device readily removed by reversing the operation of the cord as described.

What I claim to be new is:

A device for holding packages of letters consisting of two plates one of which is stationary and the other pivotally connected thereto and spring actuated, a cord fastened at one end to the stationary plate, and a button and hook upon the other, said cord adapted to be passed about the package of letters and said button, thence around the package and engaging said hook, a clevis shaped member fastened to the stationary plate passing about the forward end of the pivotal plate adapted to limit the movement of the latter in one direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

' GEORGE W. STAPLES. 

